Boxboard container



March 10, 1964 Filed Aug. 5. 1960 O. W. STONE ETAL BOXBOARD CONTAINER 5 Sheets-She INVENTORS ORISON W. STONE ERNEST P. PIOPPO ATTORNEY March 10, 1964 o. w. STONE ETAL BOXBOARD CONTAINER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 5, 1960 I IVVENIORS ORISON W.STONE ERNjEflST P. PIOPPO fa ATTORNEY March 10, 1964 Filed Aug. 5, 1960 O. W. STONE ETAL BOXBOARD CONTAINER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TORS ORISON W. STONE ERNEST P. PIOPPO ATTORNEY March 1964 o. w. STONE ETAL BOXBOARD CONTAINER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 5, 1960 OPPO llllll .lll

w Du INVENTORS ORISON W. STONE U ERNjT P. P]

AT TORNEY Mam}! 1964 o. w. STONE ETAL BOXBOARD CONTAINER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.I0

Filed Aug. 3, 1960 INVENTORS WW I T T United States Patent 3,124,295! BGXBGARD CGNTAlNlJR Unison W. Stone, Valley Cottage, and Ernest P. Proppo,

Eirnlrurst, N.Y., assignors, by mesne assignments, to

Riegel Paper Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 3, 19643, Ser. No. 47,229 2 Claims. ((fl. 2Z9-8l) This invention relates to the art of receptacles and, more particularly, to an improved container for use in readily packaging and adequately protecting merchandise.

A container according to this invention has wide application and may be advantageously used for packaging a variety of solid merchandise including relatively thin and compact articles, such as ladies hosiery, handkerchiefs and the like, and relatively bulky articles including items of wearing apparel, such as blouses, shirts, sweaters and the like. The container may have the general form of a flat envelope when employed to hold relatively thin and compact items and the general form of a box when employed to hold relatively bulky items.

There have been several worthwhile advances in this field in recent years. Such advances are exemplified by L. V. Brom Patent No. 2,833,461, granted May 6, 1958, for Easy Opening Folder and O. W. Stone Patent 2,865,- 555, granted December 23, 1958, for Boxboard Container. The container of the present invention embodies important improvements over the constructions disclosed in these patents.

The receptacles of both patents include a pair of side flaps which overlie a rear panel and a closure or top flap which also overlies the rear panel. The entire inner surface areas of such side flaps are provided with adhesives for attachment to corresponding portions of the back panel and closure flap. Perforate lines are provided in the side flaps of the Brom patent construction and similar lines are provided in the top flap of the Stone patent construction. In each patent, the parts having the perforate lines are adapted to be torn therealong at the time the top or closure flap is raised in order to permit access to the interior of the receptacle. Experience has revealed that the tear lines created in the receptacles of the patents are objectionable for the reason that they may cause damage to delicate items of merchandise at the time of removal from the receptacle. It has been ascertained, for example, that the tear lines in the region of the open ends of known receptacles present a jagged or saw-tooth edge which may damage delicate fabrics, such as those of sheer hosiery.

Our present invention overcomes this difliculty. The parts are so constructed and arranged that there are no objectionable edges in the container whether the container be in its original closed and sealed position, in open position after sealing or in reclosed position. Moreover, the parts are maintained in proper position following initial sealing. The top or closure flap may be readily raised from sealed position without injuring other parts of the container to permit access to the merchandise therein.

The container of this invention, whether in the form of an envelope or a box, is made from a blank of a suitably stiff foldable sheet material and is preferably made of an appropriate weight and grade of boxboard, such as combined board or vat lined board. Combined board is understood to mean a laminated board composed of a plurality of relatively superposed and glued sheets of paper while vat lined board is understood to mean a board consisting of a plurality of layers of paper fiber which are relatively superposed and calendered.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved container for receiving, retaining and protecting merchandise.

stanzas Patented Mar. 10, 1%64 Another object of the invention is to provide a container made from a blank of an inexpensive suitably stiff foldable sheet material which may be economically formed and assembled to obatin the container by the use of conventional equipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container which is free of parts that may damage merchandise contained therein at the time the merchandise is placed therein or withdrawn therefrom.

A further object of the invention provides a container of the type indicated which is reasonable in material and manufacturing costs, which is adapted to be readily assembled and closed, which may be readily and quickly opened to permit access to merchandise therein, which may be readily reclosed and which is capable of performing its intended functions in a satisfactory manner.

The foregoing objects and additional objects, together with the advantages of this invention, will be readily understood by persons trained in the art from the following detailed description and the annexed drawings which respectively describe and illustrate several froms of containers embodying the invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is plan view of a boxboard blank from which an envelope type container of this invention may be made;

FIG. "1a is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 1ala of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of a partially assembled container made from the blank of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 corresponds to FIG. 2 and shows the container in fully assembled and sealed condition, parts being broken away for better illustration of other parts;

FIG. 4 is a view in enlargement taken along line 4-@ of F IG. 3

FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 1 and is a plan view of a boXboard blank from which a box type container of this invention may be made;

PEG. 6 is a view in rear elevation of a partially assembled container made from the blank of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 corresponds to FIG. 6 and shows the container in fully assembled and sealed condition, parts being broken away for better illustration of other parts;

FIG. 8 is a view in enlargement taken along line i3 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 corresponds to PEG. 7 and il ustrates the relative position of certain parts in the course of raising the top flap from closed to open position;

FIG. 10 also corresponds to FIG. 8 and illustrates the relative position of the parts after the top flap has been opened and reclosed; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view in enlargement of the upper portion of FIG. 9.

Referring initially to FlG. l, we have illustrated therein the rear face of a generally cruciform boxboard blank B which is divided by a plurality of fold lines to define a first panel 5, a second panel in, a pair of side flaps 3'7 and a top flap 1%. Panel 15 serves as the front wall of the completed container C, which is shown in FIG. 3, while panel it serves as the rear wall of the container. Panel 15 is hinged to panel is along a fold line 19. Panel 15 is hinged to side flaps 17 along fold lines and to top flap is along a fold line 21. Panels 15 and is may be either oblong or square, as desired. Panel 16 is slightly smaller than panel 15.

Panel 16 has an arcuate slit 232 which is adapted to receive the free end portion of top flap 155, as will be explained further along herein.

The major portion of the illustrated surface of each side flap is provided with an adhesive coating 23. It will be observed that the upper portion 24 of said surface is devoid of adhesive.

A relatively short slit 25 is formed at each upper corner of panel 15. These slits extend inwarcny in panel 15 from the junctures of side flaps 1'7 and top flap 18.

A pair of breakaway fastening discs, preferably formed by circular cut scores 26, are formed in top flap 18. Each cut score defines an area which is preferably circular in configuration but may be of any other desired configuration. The cut scores are disposed adjacent corresponding side edges of the top flap and extend through at least the top liners of the blank, as shown in PEG. la, assuming that the material of the blank is a vat lined board. The area circumscribed by each cut score is provided with a suitable adhesive 27 (FIG. 3).

The top flap is also formed with a pair of arcuate blind scores 28 which constitute lines of weakness to permit of flexing or" that flap at the time the container is initially open. Each blind score preferably extends from a side edge of the top flap to and beyond fold line 2". While the illustrated location and configuration of the blind scores in the top flap is preferred and recommended, it should be borne in mind that the precise location and shape thereof may differ from those shown within the purview of this invention. The important consideration is that at least one blind score extending in a generally transverse direction be provided in the top flap to facilitate opening the container in a manner that will be desc'ibed further along herein. It should also be borne in mind that the blind scores may be merged into a single blind score.

For the purpose of outlining a recommended procedure for assembling and closing container C with selected merchandise therein, it is first assumed that blank B is laid out in flattened condition, as shown in FIG. 1. It is also assumed that the selected merchandise consists of a pair of ladies hosiery (not shown). The hosiery is prefolded and placed on the blank within the confines of panel 15. Panel 16 is swung upwardly about its fold line 39 so as to overlie the hosiery. Top flap 1% is next swung downwardly about its fold line 21 so as to overlie the upper end of panel 16. Each side flap 1? is then swung about its fold line 29 to overlie corresponding portions of panel it; and top flap 1S. Adhesive coatings 23 cause the side flaps to be joined to panel 16 while adhesive areas 27 cause portions of the side flaps to be joined to the top flap. This completes closing and sealing of the container. It will be noted that the top iiap is joined only to the side flaps and then merely in the region of the relatively small areas defined by cut scores 26.

The closed and sealed container is shown in FIG. 3. To open the container a person grasps the free end of top flap 18 and raises that flap. As the top flap is raised, it imparts a combined prying action and torsional action to the breakaway elements defined by cut scores 26. Assuming that the container material is vat lined board and that cut scores 26 extend through the top liner of the board, as shown in FIG. 1a, the portion of the top liner within the cut score lines is peeled off from the remainder of the top flap. The referred-to prying action will be apparent from an examination of FIG. 3. The provision of slits 25 in panel 15 and blind scores 28 in top flap 18 permit the upper corner portions of top flap 18 to be twisted in the general directions indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3 thereby facilitating disconnection between the top flap and the side flaps.

The container may be readily reclosed after opening by again swinging top flap 1S downwardly and inserting its free end into slit 22 of panel 16.

Referring now to FIGS. through 11, we have illustrated therein a box type container C which is constructed in accordance with this invention. As in the case of C, container C is also made from a generally cruciform blank B of a suitable material, such as boxboard.

Blank B is divided by a plurality of fold lines to define a number of panels including a first panel 30, which serves as the front wall of the container, and a second panel 31, which serves as the rear wall of the container. The blank includes four narrow panels, namely a bottom panel 32 a pair of side panels 33 and a top panel 34, and also a pair of side flaps 35 and a top flap 36. As in the case of corresponding parts of earlier described blank B, panel 31 of blank B is provided with an arcuate slit 43 to receive the free end of top flap 36; the major portion of each side flap 35 is provided with an adhesive coating 44 while the upper portion 45 of each side flap is devoid of adhesive; and top flap 36 is provided with a pair of breakaway fastening discs, preferably formed by circular cut scores 46 and a pair of blind scores 47 which are preferably the same in location, configuration and function as cut scores 26 and blind scores 28, respectively, earlier described. The areas circumscribed by cut scores 46 are provided with a suitable adhesive (FIG. 6).

Container C is assembled, loaded with selected merchandise and closed in the same manner as container C. The relative position of parts of the container in the course of assembly are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. FIGS. 9 and 11 illustrate relative positions of the top flap and portions of the side flaps in the course of opening the container. It will be noted from this that the upper portions of the side flaps are flexed outwardly at this time and that the side portions of the top flap are twisted inwardly to obtain the combined prying and torsional action in effecting disengagement of the top flap from the side flaps. Top panel 34 permits of twisting of the upper corners of the top flap 36 without tearing the container. Accordingly, slits of the type represented by numeral 25 in FIG. 1 need not be provided in container C.

Container C may be reclosed by again swinging the top flap over panel 31 and inserting the free end of tie top flap in slit 43 as illustrated in FIG. 10.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the objects, construction and advantages of our present invention will be readily comprehended by persons skilled in the art, without further description. Although the invention has been herein shown and described in several simple and practicable forms, it is recognized that certain parts are representative of other parts which may be used in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantially the same results. Accordingly, it is intended that all matter contained in the description or shown in the drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. In a container of the character described and formed from a blank of a suitably stiff, foldable sheet material having a laminar structure characteristic of combined board and vat lined board, the combination of (a) a front wall panel,

(17) a rear wall panel constituting an extension of the lower end of the front wall panel and disposed bchind said front wall panel,

(0) a top flap of predetermined shape connected to the upper edge of the front wall panel and folded around the top of the container to lie behind the rear wall panel,

(d) a pair of side flaps connected to opposed side edges of the front wall panel and folded around the sides of the container to lie behind the rear wall panel,

(e) said side flaps being secured to said rear wall panel but having upper end portions free of said rear wall panel,

(7) said top flap having its opposite edge extremities received between said rear wall panel and the free upper end portions of said side flaps, whereby the upper end portions of said side flaps are in overlapping relation to the edge extremities of s, id top flap,

(g) the rearwardly facing surfaces of said edge extremities being adhesively secured to the forwardly facing surfaces of said upper end portions over a predetermined limited area of contact at each side, and

(h) breakaway fastening elements associated with one of the adhesively secured surfaces at each side of the container and including the said predetermined limited area of contact at each side,

(i) said breakaway fastening elements being separable from the respective surfaces with which they are associated to elfect release of said top flap from said side flaps during opening of said container, said top flap retaining its predetermined shape after being released from said side flaps (j) said breakaway fastening elements being located wholly within the peripheral confines of the edge extremities of said top flap and the free upper portions of said side flaps,

(k) each of said breakaway fastening elements comprises an area of a flap defined by a cut score of closed configuration,

(I) said cut score having a depth less than the thickness of the sheet material and extending through at least the top layer of said sheet material, thereby accommodating separation of a predetermined layer of the sheet material, circumscribed by the cut score, from the remainder of the flap.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein the top flap is provided with at least one line of weakness which extends in a generally transverse direction whereby to permit flexing of the top flap in a manner to facilitate removal of the breakaway fastening element from the remainder of its flap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,453,015 Lavigne Apr. 24, 1923 2,024,832 Myers Dec. 17, 1935 2,833,461 Brom May 6, 1958 2,865,555 Stone Dec. 23, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 10,044 Great Britain of 1902 21,452 Great Britain of 1909 260,859 Great Britain Nov. 11, 1926 

1. IN A CONTAINER OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED AND FORMED FROM A BLANK OF A SUITABLY STIFF, FOLDABLE SHEET MATERIAL HAVING A LAMINAR STRUCTURE CHARACTERISTIC OF COMBINED BOARD AND VAT LINED BOARD, THE COMBINATION OF (A) A FRONT WALL PANEL, (B) A REAR WALL PANEL CONSTITUTING AN EXTENSION OF THE LOWER END OF THE FRONT WALL PANEL AND DISPOSED BEHIND SAID FRONT WALL PANEL, (C) A TOP FLAP OF PREDETERMINED SHAPE CONNECTED TO THE UPPER EDGE OF THE FRONT WALL PANEL AND FOLDED AROUND THE TOP OF THE CONTAINER TO LIE BEHIND THE REAR WALL PANEL, (D) A PAIR OF SIDE FLAPS CONNECTED TO OPPOSED SIDE EDGES OF THE FRONT WALL PANEL AND FOLDED AROUND THE SIDES OF THE CONTAINER TO LIE BEHIND THE REAR WALL PANEL, (E) SAID SIDE FLAPS BEING SECURED TO SAID REAR WALL PANEL BUT HAVING UPPER END PORTIONS FREE OF SAID REAR WALL PANEL, (F) SAID TOP FLAP HAVING ITS OPPOSITE EDGE EXTREMITIES RECEIVED BETWEEN SAID REAR WALL PANEL AND THE FREE UPPER END PORTIONS OF SAID SIDE FLAPS, WHEREBY THE UPPER END PORTIONS OF SAID SIDE FLAPS ARE IN OVERLAPPING RELATION TO THE EDGE EXTREMITIES OF SAID TOP FLAP, (G) THE REARWARDLY FACING SURFACES OF SAID EDGE EXTREMITIES BEING ADHESIVELY SECURED TO THE FORWARDLY FACING SURFACES OF SAID UPPER END PORTIONS OVER A PREDETERMINED LIMITED AREA OF CONTACT AT EACH SIDE, AND (H) BREAKAWAY FASTENING ELEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH ONE OF THE ADHESIVELY SECURED SURFACES AT EACH SIDE OF THE CONTAINER AND INCLUDING THE SAID PREDETERMINED LIMITED AREA OF CONTACT AT EACH SIDE, (I) SAID BREAKAWAY FASTENING ELEMENTS BEING SEPARABLE FROM THE RESPECTIVE SURFACES WITH WHICH THEY ARE ASSOCIATED TO EFFECT RELEASE OF SAID TOP FLAP FROM SAID SIDE FLAPS DURING OPENING OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID TOP FLAP RETAINING ITS PREDETERMINED SHAPE AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM SAID SIDE FLAPS (J) SAID BREAKAWAY FASTENING ELEMENTS BEING LOCATED WHOLLY WITHIN THE PERIPHERAL CONFINES OF THE EDGE EXTREMITIES OF SAID TOP FLAP AND THE FREE UPPER PORTIONS OF SAID SIDE FLAPS, (K) EACH OF SAID BREAKAWAY FASTENING ELEMENTS COMPRISES AN AREA OF A FLAP DEFINED BY A CUT SCORE OF CLOSED CONFIGURATION, (L) SAID CUT SCORE HAVING A DEPTH LESS THAN THE THICKNESS OF THE SHEET MATERIAL AND EXTENDING THROUGH AT LEAST THE TOP LAYER OF SAID SHEET MATERIAL, THEREBY ACCOMMODATING SEPARATION OF A PREDETERMINED LAYER OF THE SHEET MATERIAL, CIRCUMSCRIBED BY THE CUT SCORE, FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE FLAP. 